A total of 190,100 households (7.4% of all households in NSW) were victims of household crime in the 12 months to April 2004, a decrease from 9.4% in 2003. A decrease in the victimisation rate was recorded for break and enter (3.8% in 2004, down from 5.1% in 2003).

The household victimisation rates for Sydney and the Balance of NSW were about the same (7.4% and 7.5% respectively). This was different to the findings of previous surveys where Sydney revealed a higher household victimisation rate.

Similar to the findings of previous surveys, household victimisation rates varied according to household type. Victimisation rates ranged from a high of 11.4% for lone parent households down to 5.9% for couple only households.

VICTIMISATION RATES FOR HOUSEHOLD CRIME - 2003 and 2004

PERSONAL CRIME

There were 235,800 usual residents of NSW who were victims of personal crime in the 12 months to April 2004, a victimisation rate of 4.5%. This victimisation rate was the same as that recorded 12 months earlier. Sydney and the Balance of NSW recorded similar victimisation rates for personal crime in the 12 months to April 2004.

Males were more likely to be victims of crime than females. There were 144,800 male victims, a victimisation rate of 5.5%, and 90,900 female victims, a victimisation rate of 3.4%. Victimisation rates for personal crime varied according to sex and age. The highest victimisation rate in 2004 for males was amongst 15--24 year olds (9.6%) while the highest victimisation rate for females was amongst 25--34 year olds (5.8%).

VICTIMS OF PERSONAL CRIME(a), Age and sex - 2004

Of the 200,700 victims of assault, just under half (48%) stated that they knew their offender.

The victimisation rate for unemployed persons was 7.6% compared to 4.6% for employed persons and 3.9% for those persons who were not in the labour force.

MULTIPLE VICTIMS

Of those households which experienced household crime, 30% were victims on more than one occasion within the 12 month reference period. The multiple victimisation rate was highest for victims of attempted break and enter (35%).

Of those persons who were victims of personal crime, 46% experienced more than one incident in the 12 month reference period and the multiple victimisation rate was 46% for victims of assault compared with 28% for victims of robbery.

REPORTING TO POLICE

The reporting of incidents to the police varied according to the type of offence. For household crime, the proportion of victims reporting the most recent incident to police was considerably higher for break and enter (67%) than for attempted break and enter (25%). For victims of motor vehicle theft in 2004, 91% reported the most recent incident to police.

For personal crime, the most recent incident was reported to the police by 38% of robbery victims. The rate of reporting assaults to the police was 36% in 2004.

PERCEPTION OF CRIME/PUBLIC NUISANCE

In 2004, an estimated 52% of persons did not think there were any crime or public nuisance problems in their neighbourhood. This was a small increase on the 50% of persons who reported no perceived problems in 2003.

The main perceived crime or public nuisance problem reported was housebreaking/burglaries/theft from homes, with 12% of persons identifying this as the main problem. Other main problems identified in 2004 included dangerous/noisy driving (10%), vandalism/graffiti/damage to property (7%) and louts/youth gangs (6%).